Document operated switch for photographic copying cameras



April 29, 1947- V J. K. HOLBROOK 2, ,836

DOCUMENT OPERATED SWITCH FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYING CAMERAS 5 Sheets-Shut 1 Filed April 13, 1944 g; IQIVENTOR.

nrzvmm DEL/l YED REL/I Y April 9 1947- J. K. HOLBROOK 3 DOCUMENT OPERATED SWITCH FOR PHOTOGRAPKIC COPYING CAMERAS Filed April 13, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V EN TOR.

HITO PIYE) April 1947- J. K. HOLBROOK 2,419,836

DOCUMENT OPERATED SWITCH FOR PHOTOGRAPHI-C COPYING CAMERAS Filed April 13, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JIUIIII: v i it IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII y q I III array/v57 April 29, 1947. J. K. HOLBROOK 2,419,836 DOCUIENT OPERATED SWITCH FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYING CAMERAS Filed April 13, 1944 5 Shets-Shaet 4 NVENTFR.

April 29, 1947. J HQLBROQK 2,419,836 DOCUIENT OPERATED SWITCH FOR PHOTOGRAPH) COPYING CAMERAS Filed April 13, 1944 '5 Sheets-Sheet s i 45 48 44 a? 54 1/ 70 M w h i A 40 38 so 39 5o M 6 5a 50 "mm lk:- 5 IN In- 59 RTTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1947 OFFICE DOCUMENT OPERATED swrrcn FOR rno- 'rocmmc corms camznas John K. Holbrook,

New York, N, Y., assignor to Holbrook Microfllming Service Inc., New'York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,863

1 Claim.

1 This invention relates to photographic copying apparatus and more particularly to the type of apparatus in which a strip of film is moved in one direction to photograph an object moving in an opposite direction, the velocities of the film and object being arranged proportionately to the conjugate focal distances so that a stationary image is projected on the film.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention consists in thenovel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations, and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved copying apparatus particularly adaptable to the microphotographing, i. e., providing photographic copies on a reduced scale, of desired objects, such as business and other records of all types. A further object is the provision of such an improved apparatus of a continuous and automatic type in which a record to be photographed may be continuously moved through the photographic field of a camera having a strip of film which is continuously moved in an opposite direction the velocities of the film and object being arranged proportionately to the conjugate focal distances. The invention further provides improved and simplified apparatus for the photographing of both the front and reverse sides of such papers or records as it may be desired to record. Still another object is the provision of improved document feeding and lighting means for a copying apparatus, and also of improved control means for the automatic operation of the camera when a document is placed in the apparatus to be photographed.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the front, side and top of a cabinet containing the photographic copying apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing certain of the mechanism within the cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the camera and camera drive and clutch mechanism of the copying apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4'4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the camera drive and clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the document feeding and lighting means taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the document feeding means taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram for the electrical control and drive mechanism of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the document feeding means of a modified form of the photographic copying apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional viewtaken along line ll-H of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram for the electrical control and drive mechanism of the modified construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiments of the present invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, a cabinet 20 may be provided as a housing for the photographic copying apparatus, a smaller housing 2| being removably secured on the top of the cabinet as a cover for the camera. The cabinet 20 is provided with a shelf 22 extending across one side and the front of the cabinet as a convenient support for documents or other objects to be photographed. The front of the cabinet 20 is provided with an opening 23 through which such documents may be introduced by the operator on an inclined surface having guide members 25 to correctly position the document.

As embodied, the document feeding means of the invention, as best shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 8, may comprise a pair of feeding rollers 28 and 29 rotatably supported in a pair of end frames 30 which are supported on a transverse plate 3|. The plate 31 supports the document feeding, driving and lighting means and, as shown, is removably secured to the ends of cabinet 20 by its end flanges 32 and screws 33 whereby the whole assembly may be conveniently removed from the. cabinet.

The document feed is driven by means of electric motor 35 which has a worm gear 36 to drive a worm wheel 31 on shaft 38 which is journalled in one of the end frames 30. The shaft 38 car- 3 riesagear88inmeshwithapa1rofgears88 which are secured to respective shafts of rollers 28 and 28, whereby the rollers are driven by motor 88 for feeding the documents through the apparatus.

Idler rollers 88 and 88 are provided directly above the respective ieeding rollers 28 and 88 and these rollers are rotatably mounted by their shafts in a pair of journal members 88. These journal members are positioned closely adjacent the side frames 88 and are pivotally positioned with respect thereto by means of a shaft 88 supported in the side frames and passing through the ends 31 members is. The other ends of the Journal members are supported by a rod-48 extending between side frames 88, and set screws 88 are provided for securing the members. With the construction shown it will be apparent that the idler rollers 88 and 88 may be conveniently swung back around the pivot of rod 88 in order to clear up a jam or stoppage in documents going through or to repair or adiust other parts of the mechanism.

A plurality of guide strips 88 are provided along the length of rollers 28 and 28 and are secured to supports 5| extending between side frames 88. The idler rollers 88 and M, as may be seen in Fig. 8, are each formed of a plurality of roller sections 88 which are relatively loosely mounted on the respective roller shafts. The purpose of this construction is to provide a certain flexibility in the roller structure of the feed mechanism 80 that folded documents or documents having clips, seals, or other uneven objects may be accommodated between rollers 28, 28 and I8, 84 without jamming or straining the mechanism.

The space between the feed rollers 28 and 28 includes the photographic field of a camera positioned at the top of the cabinet, which will be hereinafter described, and preferably fluorescent lamps 55 are provided supported between end frames 88 for lighting the document to be photographed by the camera. As shown in Fig. 2, a light shield 51 is positioned above the lights 58, and has a central longitudinal aperture 58 through which photographing of objects is permitted. The light shield 51 is pivotally supported on the panel 58' comprising, with the surface 28, a chute into which objects are fed to be photographed and. designed to prevent excessive light from entering the interior of the cabinet. Objects fed through the feeding rollers and photographed are dropped into a box 58 at the back of the cabinet, and may be removed through a door 8|! provided in the back of the cabinet.

The drive and shutter mechanism of the cam era of the present invention are controlled by the document to be photographed as itpasses through the feeding means just described. As embodied, the controlling means may comprise a micro-switch 65 disposed centrally below roller 28 and supported by one of the supports 5|. The switch 85 is provided with a pair of arms 88 and 61 extending upwardly between rollers 28 and 28 and having upper bent ends in a position to be contacted and slightly depressed by a document moving from roller 28 to roller 28 through the photographic field of the camera. The switch arm 81 is positioned slightly ahead of the arm 86 in the direction of travel of the document, and the arms are so positioned that the arm 88 will be contacted by a document substantially at the same time as the document enters the photographic field of the camera.

8 andthedocumentwillterminstceontactwith armll aslightdistancebeymdtheothcr side of the field. As hereinafter explained. the ing ofswitch "bymeanlofdtherorbnthol 81 opens the camera shutter and drives the photographic film for photographing the document and the arrangement of the arm 88, 81 is preferably such that thue (mentions areemnmencedjustasthedocummtmtersthe photographic field and are terminated somewhat after the document has left the photogr p field, in order to provide a space between the imag s on the film.

The camera mechanism of the copyin ap ratus of the present invention is located on the top ofthe cabinet ilandwithlnthehousinlfl. andthismechanismisshownindetailinriss. 2 to 5 inclusiveofthe drawing Thecamerah driven from electric motor 88 by means of a pulley 18 on shaft 88 whichisdrlvenbythemotor. Abelt lldrivinglyconnectspulley'llanda double pulley l2 rotatably mounted on bracket 18 toward the top of the cabinet. Belt 18 extends between the other groove of pulley 12 to a third pulley I8, the belt extending throw an aperture 18 provided in the top or the cabinet.

The camera driveincludes a shaft 18 mounted inajournal'llonabssepiatefl of the cabinet 28, and is shaft 18 for correlative the. other end of shaft 18 is fixed of a toothed clutch, the other tion 82 being splined to a shaft 8 journalled in an upstanding plate 88. A worm gear 88 on with worm wheel 88 on shaft 88, journalled in frame 88 and in casing 8|. Shaft 88 drives a thereon, and this in turn drives means of a spring belt 88. The pulley 88 is mountedon ashaftfljmrnalledinthecamera casing 8|, and this shaft carries the film take up reel within the camera casing.

The toothed clutch for the drive of the camera is controlled by a solenoid 88 mounted on top of the frame 88. The shaft 88 of the solenoid armature is flexibly connected to a clutch arm I88 by means of nut III and a flexible washer I82, and the shaft 88 and arm I88 are normally outwardly urged from the solenoid by a coiled spring I88 between the arm I88 and the solenoid housing.

The arm I88 is pivotally molmted on a bracket I88 of frame 88 and terminates in yoke arms I85 positioned in a circumferential groove in the axially movable toothed member 82 of the clutch. It may be seen that the toothed members 8| and 82 comprising the clutch are normally out of engagement by reason of the action of spring I88 and there is no driving connection between shafts l8 and 88. When the solenoid 88 is energized arm I88 is moved against the compression of spring I88 to engage members 8| and 82 and drive the camera.

As shownindetailinFigsSandLthecamera comprises a him take up reel Ill molmted a: shaft 88 and a supply reel III molmted within thecamera casing 8|. The strip of film, shown by dotted meshing-4mm!!! numeral H2, essesoilofsupplyreel Ill around guide roller 8, thence around drum Ill, around a second guide roller III and cntotake up reel IIII. Guide roller 8 is mounted for free rotation about ashaftsecuredinthecammcasing 8|,andguiderdlerH8ismountedonI-narm II 3 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft also secured in the camera casing 9|. -The arm H6 is downwardly urged by a spring I", providing a yielding means for maintaining tension in the film strip H2. The drum II 4 is mounted on the end of shaft -90 extending int the camera housing 9| and is driven therewith.

A roller I is positioned to ride on the surface of the film strip wound on supply reel III and is mounted on arm I2I on shaft I22 journailed in the camera casin SI and downwardly urged by means of spring I23. The shaft I22 extends through'casing BI and at its outer end carries a finger I24 to contact the arm I25 of a micro-switch I26. This assembly provides an indicator for the supply t film on reel III, the roller I20 following the decreasing supply of film until a predetermined relatively small amount remains, at which point the finger I24 is so positioned to engage the micro-switch arm I25 and warn the operator of the condition.

A shutter mechanism is provided to control exposure of the film. As embodied this mechanism comprises a rectangular box I with an open side positioned against the camera base plate 80.

The base plate 80 has an aperture I3I registering with an aperture I32 in the top of the cabinet 20, and the lens I33 is positioned in these apertures and threaded into a plate I34 secured to base plate 80.

The box I30 has a slit aperture I 35 in its top, and a shutter member I36 is positioned in guideways I31 with a slit aperture I38 to be registered with aperture I35 when exposure of the film H2 is desired. The shutter member I36 is controlled by a solenoid I40, the armature MI of which is normally urged by spring I42 away from box I30 so that apertures I35 and I38 are normally out of registration but are moved to registerin position when the solenoid is energized.

-The wiring diagram-shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings will now be described and the operation of the photographic copying apparatus of the invention will therefrom appear. The power source is indicated diagrammatically as I45 connected with motor 35 through lead I46 through main switch I41, the circuit then being grounded at I48. The fluorescent lamps are connected to the circuit through lead I50, so that when switch I41 is closed the motor is started to drive the document feeding means and the lights 55 are lighted. At the same time current is supplied through leads I5I and I52 through switch I26 to a light I53 on the front panel of the cabinet 20. The arm I24 is out of'contact with A switch arm I25 of switch I26 indicating a satisfactory amount of film on supply reel III and the light I53 may be green in color indicating the apparatus is in condition for operation.

A document to be photographed may then be fed through aperture 23 at the front of'the cabinet and engaged between rollers 28 and 43 and fed forward thereby. When the document has reached the photographic field'its forward edge depresses the first arm 66 of switch 65 closing a circuit through leads I54 and I55 to solenoid 98 to engage clutch members M and B2 and to solenoid I40 to move shutter I36 into film exposing position.

The film H2 is thus continuously fed off from reel II I around drum I I4 to. be exposed, and onto reel IIO, the direction of movement of the film being opposite to that of the document passing through the feeding means. The drive means for the film and document feeding means which have trailing edge of the document has passed slightly beyond the photographic field, arm 61 will be disengaged and camera drive and shutter actuation will be discontinued until the next document is introduced.

When the supply of film on reel I I I has reached a predetermined relatively small supply, the finger I24 will engage switch arm I25 to close a circuit to a buzzer or other signal I51 through lead I58 and to cut off light I53. A second signal light I51,

5 preferably red in color, indicates that an exposure is taking place and is energized with solenoid I40.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a photographic copying apparatus modified in some particulars from the construction just described. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the document controlled switch at the feeding means may comprise a pair of rings I 60 spaced apart along the length of the first feeding roller 28. The rings are of electrically conductive material such as copper and make electrical contact with the first idler roller 43 when no document is in the feeding means, roller 43 also being of electrical conductive material. Contact rollers I6I are positioned to roll against respective rings I60 and one of the rollers is grounded, while the other is connected through lead I63 to a delayed action relay I62. As shown in Fig. 12 the main switch I41 closes a circuit through motor 35, and through leads I64 and I65 to relay I62. The relay is also connected through lead I66 to the clutch solenoid 98 and the shutter solenoid I40.

In order to photograph easily and economically the backs and face of documents such as checks or similar documents where the record of an endorsement, for instance, may be desired. fluorescent lights I68 may be positioned beneath and between the feed rollers 28and 29 enclosed in a reflector I69. A tapered longitudinally extending light conducting member I 10 made of Lucite (methyl methacrylate) or material of similar properties is positioned directly over lights I68 and extends upwardly between rollers 28 and 29 to a position just below the path of travel of documentsthrough the feeding means. When the back and face of a document is to be photographed it is put through the feeding means in the usual way, front up and back down, but the upper lights 55 are extinguished and the lower lights I68 are lighted. The light is concentrated on the document as it passes through the photographic field by the Lucite member I10 and the back and face are photographed, but at the same time the light from the upper edge of member I10 is diffused so that there is no strong direct beam directed toward the lens of the camera.

As shown in Fig. 12, a two way switch I isprovided between leads I12 and I73 leading to lights 55 and I68 respectively so that either set of lights may be selectively operated depending upon whether the front or the back and front of the document is being photographed. Leads I12 and I 13 are connected to lead I64 and thus to the power source through main switch I41.

When a document entering the feeding means breaks Contact of either of the rings I60 with the idler roller 43, the circuit to the solenoids 98 and I40 is closed through leads I64, I15 and the relay,

auaace 7 and the document is photographed in it;

through the feeding means. when the document has passed beyond the feed roller 28 the circuit will be re-established through the contact rollers Iii and idler roller 43 in readiness for the next document. However, the delayed action relay IE2 is so set as to maintain the circuit to solenoids 88 and I40 until the trailing edge of the document has been fed slightly beyond the photographic field, so that the photographic copy may be complete and also a small space left between the image on the film and the next image.

Other portions or the mechanism shown in Figs. 10, l1 and 12 are identical with the apparatus already described and the balance or the mechanism and its operation is as has been described in connection with the other figures of thedrawings. The plurality of spaced apart contacts I60 for the control of the camera are particularly useful where a document may be introduced into the feeding means at an angle or may be of irregular shape, as sensitivity is thus established at more than one point along the width of the feeding mechanism for starting and stopping the camera.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claim without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

In a control means for a photographic copying apparatus having shutter and film drive controlling solenoids and document feeding means the Mcotadrivenrollerhavinaapalro! spaced electricity conducting circumferential apart rings contacting a second roller having a circumferential electric conducting surface he tweensaidflngs,saidrollersformingapartof said document feeding means, a delayed actim relay, an electric power source, and electric circuit means interconnecting the power source. relay, rings, surface and solenoids so that the solenoids are energized upon breaking contact between either of said rings and said surface and energiaation of said solenoids is maintained for a predetermined time after contact of both rim with said surface is reestablished.

JOHN K. HQLBROOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,957,889 Hopkins May 8, 1934 1,900,878 Hopkins Mar. 7,1933 2,292,825 Dilks, Jr. Aug. 11, 1942 2,153,154 Nivison et al A131. 4, 1939 1,880,414 Capstafl Oct. 4, 1932 2,286,014 Rowe June 9, 1942 1,706,161 Hollnagel Mar. 19, 1929 1,190,204 St. James July 4, 1916 1,391,807 Swalm et a1. Sept. 27, 1921 2,177,135 Fassel Oct. 24, 1939 2,219,458 Sohns Oct. 29, 1940 1,985,038 Kroesen Dec. 18, 1934 ,063 Manshel May 24, 1910 

